Ockey Family Adventures: Halloween 2017

All ready for Halloween!

Halloween is a stressful day for moms. After all the work of putting together costumes, gathering props, buying bags of candy, and carving pumpkins, the big day finally arrives. Then there is the stress of getting everyone out the door in their costumes. And this Halloween was especially busy for the mom in this house. She was literally running around like a crazy woman from 8:00 am - 2:15 pm. So here is a rundown of her day.

7:45 Get Mark and Dax to school. Don't forget to take pictures of them in their costumes because they will run around playing basketball and soccer all day, so when they get home they will be sweaty and their costumes stained.

8:00 Pick up donuts at the store for Mark's Halloween party.

9:00 Take Seth to preschool. Well, actually drop him off at the neighbor's so they can take Seth to preschool while Mom hurries to the school for the Halloween Parade. Even though the parade starts at 9:30 if you don't get there early you will never find a seat (not to mention a parking spot).

9:30 Halloween parade! It is fun to watch the boys (and all the other kids) walk by, especially because Mom scored a chair in the hallway!

10:15 Halloween parade ends. Run over to Dax's class and drop off the stuff for the Halloween party.

Dax was a cute little Harry Potter!

10:30 Head to Randy's school. He dressed up as Where's Waldo and invited Mom to the Halloween party in his class, so she thinks she better be there.

Dad was a great Where's Waldo!

10:50 Arrive at Randy's school.

11:15 Leave Highland and head back to Lehi. Seth is having a Halloween parade at the end of his preschool.

11:40 Seth's Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treating. Seth led the parade and he was very intense about following the line. In fact, he left the whole class behind. He was the only kid that said thank you to everyone for candy, which made Mom very proud.

Seth led the way on the trick or treating parade.

Seth's preschool friends

12:00 Lunch. Seth and Mom scarfed down lunch and got everything ready for Mark's party.

12:40 Back to the school to set up for Mark's Halloween party. Mom is the Room Mother. She had some great helpers and the party went really well.

This was a fun activity. Suck up the jello as fast as you can!

Mark was chosen to be wrapped as a mummy.

Classic cookie on the face game!

2:15 Mark's Party ends at two o'clock. Help clean up and then gather the kids. It's finally time to go home.

Mom seriously ran around all day long, but it was totally worth it. The fact that Seth's costume had ModgePodge all over it from a preschool activity, which is nearly impossible to get out, didn't stop her from washing, scrubbing, and praying most of it out. She got a 10 minute breather just before dinner before sending the boys out with Dad in their costumes.

The pumpkin that ruined Halloween!

This year, Mark decided to go as a baseball player, which is just right because it's easy. Dax wanted to be Harry Potter because he has enjoyed reading the books with Dad (they're on #4!) Seth had the cutest idea of all. He wanted to be an umpire. The costume was easy, and he was the only umpire we saw this year, and probably ever!

Dax was so excited to be Harry Potter.

He especially loved having a wand!

Mark was a baseball player...again! I think this might be his costume from here on out.

Seth was the most darling umpire you ever did see!

But he's not afraid to call you out!

The boys and Dad looked amazing. It really was a fun Halloween!

At around 6 o'clock, Dad took the boys out to knock every door in the new ward. He and they boys had fun meeting new people while Mom stayed home and answered the door. It was a slow year for trick-or-treaters, which Mom didn't mind a bit! It was the only slow part of her day.

P.S. The day before Halloween we carved pumpkins. The older boys did most of their own carving, which was so nice. Mom helped Seth, and all of the jack-o-lanterns turned out amazing!